MTB pants have gone from being for downhill racers only, to everyday wear for an increasing number of mountain bikers. Full-length pants not only protect you from trail filth and debris, but in summer, they stop your legs from getting shredded by thorny foliage and help to guard against OD-ing on radiation emitted from that hot, glowy thing occasionally seen in the sky here in the UK.
On warm days, riding in MTB pants can get pretty toasty though. Enter Endura's lighter-weight, more ventilated MT500 Burner Lite range designed for full limb coverage when things heat up. I've been testing the MT500 Burner Lite Pants in a variety of temperatures for the past few months to see how they measure up when the mercury is on the rise.
Design and materials
Endura sponsored riders, the Athertons have given the thumbs up to Endura's MT500 Burner Lite range which resembles lightweight race wear. The pants are made of polyester/nylon material that has a fair bit of stretch lengthways and a little side-to-side.
The cut tapers to the ankle, with fairly straight cut sections at the calves – so there's no excess material to flap about and potentially catch in your chain. The taper is not as pronounced as some rivals though – such as Specialized's Trail Pants, which have an 'MC Hammer' style cut which is a bit too extreme for me.
Behind the knees are mesh sections with laser-cut ventilation holes slightly lower down either side for added ventilation. The fabric used feels lighter than standard pants, and at 256g for the size small I'm testing, the MT500 Burner Lites are 80 to 100g lighter than other mid-weight trail trousers I've worn.
Closure is taken care of by a zip fly, and twin press studs backed up by a Velcro section. The waistband has a silicone gripper at the rear and Endura's ClickFast popper for attaching to one of the brand's liner shorts. Pocket-wise, there's a zipped one on either leg. The pants are coated with a non-toxic, PFC-free, durable water-repellent finish.
Performance
I've been testing the MT500 Burner Lite Pants for several months now in temperatures ranging from 15 to 25 degrees C (59 to 77 F). It's peak undergrowth season on my local trails right now, so there are lots of brambles and other thorned plants raking your arms and legs as you ride. Despite their Lite status, the Endura pants have passed that particular durability test well. I wondered if the ventilated sections would get torn, but they're still in good shape.
The cut of the pants works well with no annoying flapping at speed, the stretchy fabric is comfortable and the waist closure system has proved secure. The Burner Lites work well with more trail-orientated MTB knee pads with enough room and stretch for anything up to mid-size models such as POC's Oseus VPD pads. While there's plenty of room for stashing your phone, a tool and more in the zipped pockets, their contents do move around as you pedal and I prefer the more fitted pockets found on kit such as Rapha's Trail Shorts. Overall though, the Burner Lites have proved themselves to be decent performers for general riding conditions.
As to whether they actually run any cooler than standard MTB pants though, the jury is out for me. While the pale, almost white 'Haar Grey' color of the pants I've been testing, has undoubtedly done a better job of reflecting rather than absorbing heat from the sun on hot days, I don't think the smooth feeling fabric of the pants breathes that well and it feels like heat gets trapped inside. Maybe Endura has sacrificed some breathability for extra durability.
Speaking of durability, while writing up this review I noticed that the plastic buckle for one of the Velcro straps at the waistband has started to pull through the stitching. I checked with Endura and the brand confirmed that it would be covered in the lifetime warranty against "fair wear and tear". Defective products would be exchanged for new ones from wherever they were purchased. Endura is sending me a new pair of pants to test, so I'll update this review once I've put some time into them. Endura also offers a 90-day "no quibble" refund on all their products should you find they are not right for you.
Verdict
Endura's MT500 Burner Lite Pants are a good all-round option for everyday riding in drier conditions. While they're comfortable, and look good, despite their Lite status, I found that the pants still ran pretty warm when the sun was out on hot days.
I was impressed by the pants' durability apart from the buckle pulling through the stitching at the waist. That could well be due to something as minor as a damaged thread though, so I'll see how things go with the replacement pair and update this review accordingly.
As alternatives go, we scored Rapha's Trail Lightweight Pants 4 out of 5 in our review, and tester, Graham Cottingham, tells me they're still like new mid-way through their second season. There's nothing between the pants price-wise, but the Rapha's 'trackie bottom' stylings might not suit everyone
- Price: $149.99 / £109.99 / €114.99
- Weight: 256g (size small tested)
- Materials: Polyester and Nylon
- Sizes: S to 2XL
- Colors: Haar Grey (tested), Atlantic, Olive Green, Black
- Rival products: Rab Cinder Crank Pants, Specialized Trail Pant, Rapha Lightweight Pants
